Can-charging apparatus



B. E. TAYLOR.

CAN CHARGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 13.1919.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

x7 I 5/ f l E. TAYLOR. CAN CHARGING APPARATUS.

, B. E. TAYLOR. CAN [CHARGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 13, 1919. I

' Patented Mar. 29-, 192].

5 SHEETSSHEET 3 z/ Ext c".

.B. EI.;TAYL QRL CAN CHARGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED- DEC- 13, 1919.

Patented Mar. 29,1921.

5 SHEETS-SHE 4- a vent 302. 1: .72 2) Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

B. E. TAYLOR. CAN CHARGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 13- 1919.

mum st r s BURT E. TAYLOR, or Mourrr VERNON, NE YORK, Assrenon rounds nonnnn don JPANY, or new YORK, N. y, a conrona'rrou on JERSEY.

arm QFFEQE. Y

CAN-CHARGING arranar'us.

Application filedDecember 1s, 1919. Serial No.344,713. l

To all whomt't mag concern: I

Be it known thatl, BURT E. TAYLoR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mount Vernon, county of Westchester,

and State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Can- 'C iarging Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My present invention relates to apparatus in aid of the chargnig, or filling,- of cans,

particularly of the well-known cylindrical,

sheet-metal type, such as employed, for example ascontainers of evaporated milk, or

other, products, or materials, of liquid, or

liq'uesrent, character possessing,' in common, under suitable conditions, the property of flowing; many of whlch mater1als are so subject to infection and injury through eX. posure to the atmospherathat their con-' nor cans are ultimately hermetically l charged through relatively small openings in the top as per present approved and wellunderstood practice. v The objects of my present invention comprise provision of novel means; and appliances, whereby the saidvperishable flowing materials are comparatively automatically chargeable into the cans with more speed, less wastage, less disturbance and less eX- posure to atmospheric or other injury than heretofore. f l 1 These objects I attain by aid of my inventicn romprising the novel adjuncts and meclnmical factors, elements and parts, examples "of which and of their operation are illustrated in the accompanying drawings" in which: i V Y 1 i ure 1 a side view or elevation oi a charging); apparatus embodying featureso my invention, and including a can.

l igrQtis, on enlarged scale, a vertical cen tral sectionalview showing certain details.

31- is a central vertical sectional view of the top of a can showing its relatively small opening. 1 3 l Figs. .to 8 inclusive are central vertical cross-sectional views, on still larger scale, showing the relation of certain parts of my novel valve and other devices and their positions relatively to each other andto the re ceptacle for the material andlto' the opening V in the can at different stages? 0]": their operation preparatory to, and durlng, the charging. 1 c

in aidoi preservation, and to that end 'Figs. 9 to12' inclusive are-diagrammatic views of certain of the cams and the r respective relations to each otherand to thereof the punch and va'lves respectively."

" Fig; al -p rtly sectionaland par ly sectional view taken on the line as w ofFig. 2

I provide for the material tobe charged, for example evaporated milk, a cylindrical receptaole 19 of any preferredcapacity suliicient to insure retention therein, preparatory I to charging, of at least somewhat more of preferably in, its bottom with a preferably therewith coin centric downwardlydelivering outlet '19.

The top of the receptacle is closed, or open, as may be preferred, andthe material is introduced thereinto manually or automatically, and the rate andextent of suchchargingof the receptaole regulated, if: desired, by any of the well-known devices ofthe lower p'art of-the receptacle is downwardly tapered or constricted, fui melwise, toward the outlet, the construction belng' Specification of Letters Patent. 'Ffi t Mar. 2 21 side elevational view illustrative ofcertain employable for such purposes. The interior SllC-l1"aSl30 thereby plOYlCle an internallyj concave conical or funnel-shaped valve seat 19 p'roximateoto, and concentrically sur-.

rounding the outlet.

In the present instance the construction "of the receptacle 19 is such .as to comprise a I therefrom; detachable, therewith screw j ointed, tip, 21 within which thetaper 19 is ex tended, and through which passes the outlet 19' as shown, in the drawings. This tip is composed of rigid material, such preferably as hardened metal,;andcomp rises, for fa purposehereatter described, a partyor face plate, having a substantiallyplane downwardly presented continuous, i. 6. un-

rounding said outlet, and a therefrom downwardly extending tubular flange portion 21'. having an angular z-edge, 21', concentric with, and closely surrounding the path of p the outlet 19, the inner surface of the flange.

constitutinga part of the inner surface of the outlet and the. outer-surface, or exterior,

of the flange flaring therefrom, e. from the f apex of its edgeto its juncture with said plane surface, and being preferably, concavely curved. (See Fig. 6, etc.)

In the-type of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4: 8, I dispose within the receptacle1 9 a therein reciprocatable valve-member, 22., the lower end of which is tapered complementarily with the taper 19f of the receptacle ale. is externally conveXly conical, so as to be cooperatable with the latter;

The valve-member 22 is tubular, i. 6. contains a therein longitudinally extended bore or cavity, '22, (from which, adjacent its bottom, leads an opening 22"registrable with the outlet 19' ofthe receptacle 19. The interior. of the lowerpart of the cavity, or

bore, 22 is" downwardly tapered or con-H stricted, funnelwise, toward the opening Y 22 as shown in the drawings, the construction being such that the thus tapered interior provides a concavely conical valve seat, 22, within the-cavity proximate to, and

surrounding its opening 22"; This :valve seat is, as is important, presented in the same direction as the valve seat in the receptacle, i. e. theoperative surfaces of both are,

preferably, in substantialparallelism with,

or, as itwere, nested with, each other;

T: dispose, principally within the cavity co'ciperate therewith. The upper portion of v the member 23 is bored to produceavcentrally disposed pneumat c channel which connects with a transversebore opening into the cavity 22", the said bores constituting a pneumatic passage, or air duct, 23", which is operatively connected with any suitable air-exhausting apparatus, such, for example,

as the ordinary rotatory ump, 24, (diagrammatically indlcated in Fig. 1 through an intermediate flexible hose connection 24, the upperporuion ofthe member 23 belng" extended sli'dably, as ,shown' 111 F 1g. 2,

through and beyond the otherwise closed top of the valve-memberv22, and requisiteairtightnesslbeing there imparted by' aid of a stuffing box,25.

The-lower end of the valve-member, or

' rod, 28, comprises, in this instance, and for recessed surface 21" of" uniform level throughout extending annularly, "and-radi ally outwardly, from and completely'sur-' a purpose hereafter described, a therefrom downward projection, or can-opener punch 26 passable through the outlet 19 and the opening 22" so as to be projected beyond them. The lower portion of the valve-member, or red, 23, is guided during its reciprocations by thereby carried pins 27, 28, the ends of which bear slidingly against the surface of the cavity, or bore, 22 of the tubular valve-member 22, (Figs. 2 and 18) therebyalso insuring accuracy ofmovement of the punch 26.

From the above described construction, 1t

' follows that when the tubular valve is seated, the outlet ofthe receptacle is closed, and that when, pending such closure, the punch is raised above the opening in the tubular valve member, air may be drawn upwardly through said opening and through the outlet of the receptacle.

Underneath outlet 19 of the receptacle 19 I providea movable, 2'. a. vertically reciprocatable, support, 29, (Figs. 1, 15) for the can 20, the dispositionbeing such as when properly adjusted to cause said outlet and the opening 20 of the can to register.

I provide means whereby to automatically timely move, or reciprocate, relatively to 5 each other the said can support, tubular valve fmember, 22, and rod vvalve member, Such means "comprise, 1n the present stance, a stationary frame F (Fig.1) by an.

arm =F"of which is'stationarily carried, or suspended, the receptacle, 19. Journaled in said frame is a rotatory" shaft .30, carrying a crank arm, 'or handle, 30, by aid of which it may be manually, or otherwise, rotated. The can support, or table, 29, comprises a leg 29 slidably mounted in guide arms 31,

31, carried by the frame. A pin 29" carried by the leg, is held slidably in a slot 32 locatedin one arm of arock lever 32, pivoted as at 32" to the frame. The other arm of.

the lever 32 is normally held up by a thereto attached retractile spring 2,3 carried by the frame, thus forcing the can support down;

ward enough to normally keep the top of thereon standing can out of contact with the bottom, or outlet, of the receptacle, 19. This arm of the lever 32 carries a roller, 34,

against which operatively bears a. cam 35 carried'bythe shaft 80, and so shaped, and timed, as to force the can support upward against the stress of the spring 33, and

, cause the can top to bear against the flange,

. as required, reciprocating the tubular valve member 22. A block 36 carried by said tively bears a cam 41 carried by the shaft 80,

and so shaped, and timed, as to, when, and so long as, required, lift and uphold the tubular valve member 22 from its seat in the receptacle. 2

I provide substantially similar, and analo- V gously operating, means for when, and as required, reciprocating the inner valve member, 23 independently of the tubular valve,

z. e. a thereby carried block 42 similarly slidably mounted on the rod 37, and normally forced downward by an expansion spring 43, also a link, or rod, 44, which slidably passes through the guide arm 39. One end or the link 44 is connected withblock 42, and the other end carries a roller 44 against which operatively' bears a cam, 45, carried by the shaft 30 and so shaped, and timed, as to, when, so far, and so long as,requ'ired, lift and uphold the rod valve member, 23 from its seat in the tubular valve-member 22, and thus also its projection, or punch, 26 out of and above the outlet 19 and the opening 22'. i

Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive of the drawings diagrammatically exemplify the conformationsand timings of the cams referred to in order to produce the required respective movements of the tubular valve 22, the rod" valve member 23, and the cam support 29,

. relatively to each otherand to the receptacle 19. V

Operation.The apparatus and canare, preliminarily to charging, positioned as follows, viz: The, tubular valve member, 22,

is, by aid ofgravity, and of the sprin'g 40,

held down uponthe valve seat, 19, of the receptacle, 19, thereby closing the outlet 19 of the'latter; thus enabling the receptacle to be then charged with the evaporated milk or other flowing material. The pneumatic valve member, or rod, 23, isalso, by aid of gravity, and of the spring," 43, held v firmly down upon the valve seat, 22, within the tubular valve member, thus closingthe opening 22 or 22 and. positioning ,the punch 26 within the opening 22 and" the outlet 19, and so as to project 1 downwardly beyond the latter. In: this :pre-

liminary .or normal position the parts referred to are shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8 otthe drawings. Meanwhile thecan-supbdrt329, is held down toits norm Position by tension of the spring, on the rock lever 32. A can is now placed on the can support adjusted so that. the center of its head, er or the therein openin'gjir" any, registers Wlth the center of the outlet 19, of the receptacle 19. It will be understood that, as

in usual practice, the heads of the cans, of

the type referred to, already contain a rela- 7 tively small central opening, or aperture, of I usually not to exceed one thirtysecond of an inch in diameter, such opening being illustrated in Fig.3, but the existence, of such an opening in the can in advance of my operation, is, although preferable, not essenan thereto, my punch 26 being competent to puncture the head, as well as to enlarge a thereby, or otherwise already, made opening.

The shaft, 30, being now rotated, the roller 84 carried by' the lever 32 will ride up the rise 35 (Fig. 9) of the cam, 35, to the position indicated in Fig. 9,: thereby raising the can and causing the punch, 26, to

puncture it, or to enter its already made opening, 20, which, in either case, will finally provide the can with, an opening of substantially the same diameter as that of the punch and, correspondingly, as that of theoutlet 19 of-the receptacle 19,--the cross sectional diameter or the punch in this instance beingsay about one-sixteenth of an inch. The uptorcing of the can is thus continued until'the plane upper surface of its head is thereby caused to "contact closely with the thereto opposed above mentioned plane downwardly presented surface '21" of the rigid tip 21.' It will be-noted that during this upward forcing of thecan, not-only does the punch, 26,-by reasonof its tapered form, as shown in the drawings, enlarge the opening n the can head thereby annularly distorting, or transversely bending backward, 1 portions of the sheet metal of the read adjacent the initial puncture, or opening, but also that the annular flange 21" cooperates with the punch in so doing and furthermore, owing toits shape, wedgingly enters and enlarges. the opening and, at the same time, presents a suitable concavely tarily to the convexly curvedsurface' of the flange21 imparted to the edge or the sheetopening. Theres'ultis the formation of a temporary air-tight joint, or'union, between a the can-,fltand' the receptacle 19, or, more specurved surfacecorresponding complemenmetal by its said distortion proximate the j citically, the tip 21, ofthe latter, this being 2 due in part'to the constrictive grip, or

squeeze,'of the, to an extent resilient, dis-" torted sheet-metal on the flange 21. This union, thus produced, I have discovered to be so effective as to dispense with gaskets, or

other packing devices, hitherto depended upon to impart suflicient air-tightness in such connections;

"After the-can has been, as described, air- &

tightly united with the tip of the receptacle opening 22, thus bringing the parts into the respective positions indicated in Fig. erals as before, z. c. 19 is the receptacle, hav- The exhaust being then applied, air is, to a L L SllillClGIlb Xt6nb,ll110b altogether, withdrawn from the can (asmdicated by the arrows in saidiigure) through the outlet and openings referred to, and thence through the bore of v the tubular valve member and the air-duct of the inner valve-member, 23. Further rotation of the shaft, 30, Wlll, owing to, the depression d5 oi the cam 4:5 (FigsLll and 13) permit the valve-member, "23, including its punch to resume their above'described normal positions, again indicated in Fig. (5, thereby closing the opening, 22", of the tubular valvemember 22, cutting off the ex haust, and leaving the interior ofthe can substantially, devoid of atmospheric pressure.

vFurther rotation ofthe shaft will cause the roller, 44, to ride up the second rise,

45", of the cam a5, and, simultaneously the V roller, 88, to r de up the rise, 41, of the, cam, ll, (Figs. 12, 14;) thereby causing thetubular valve member, 22, andits therein seated valve member, 23, including its punch, 26, to simultaneously and in air-tight 0on tact with each other rise sufficiently to clear the outlet 19 of the receptacle 19, 'as 1nd1-i cated in- Fig. 7, whereupon so much of the chargeof flowing material contained 1n the receptacle as is required to fill the can is, by

the combined action of gravityand atmospheric pressure, quickly, and without undue disturbance, transferred into the can through the latters relatively; small opene ing. Further rotation of the shaft wil1.restore thetubular valve member 22 and the pneumatic valve member 23 to their normal initial positions as shown in Fig. 8, (the former-during, and by, its descent driving the surplus, if any, of the flowing material upward and backinto the receptacle,) and thereafter cause the roller 34 to ,ride down intothe depression 35' of the cam 35 thereby permitting the can support 29 to resume 'its initial normal position, after. which the charged can is removed to be sealed orotherwise treated, and an empty can beingplaced on the support the cycle is repeated, the 0011-,

struction being such that thisis accomplishedduring each complete rotation of the shaft.

The constructionand operationare such as to result in the charging of a can through a therein relatively minute; opening, more expeditiously economically, and hygienieally crates a rotary inventionsome of the means employed, par

ticularly those forexhausting the can, being,

in this instance, differen from those previ-.-

ously described, but the remaining elements being substantially the same and indicated in the drawings by the same reference nuing the outlet 19 and provided with the tip 21 (Fig/15 having the plane surface 21', and the annular flange 21 having the angular edge 21for the purpose of making an air tight joint betweenjthe can and the receptacle as in the previous construction, 29 is the reciprocatable support for the can having the leg 29 carrying the pin, 29 within the slot in one armof the rocle lever 32 pivoted to the frame Fas 32". In this instanve, however, the lever. is positively rocked and held where and when re quired by aid ofa link 46 carried by the other of the lever. The link carries a roller (not shown) which coiiperates with an internal cam,47, rotated by the shaft, 30,

and sha 38d and timed to impart the requisite reciprocationsand intervening pauses to the can support. In this instance there is substituted for the former pneumatic valve member, 23, a reciprocatablc punch member,

48, the operative projertion of which is passable through, and beyond, the outlet 19' and is of form and dimension such as to snugly lit the outlet thereby substantially closing it to the flowing-material contained in the receptacle. This punch 1s reciprocated analogously to the pneumatic valve member of;

the can, viz: an oscillatory spindle valve,

53, operated by aid of a thereby carried arm, 54, carrylnga roller, 54-, w1th which coep- 30, and provided with a projection, 55, shaped and timed to cause the valve to temporarily -assume, and maintain while .required the position shown in Fig. 17, the nor- I mal position of this valve being'that shown,

in 16, and the valve being returned thereto 'and held therein by a retractlle sprlng, 56, coimectingthe arm 5 with the frame. E f-The valve, 53, is movably sup cam, 55, carried by the shaft,

against the union and the valve to keep the latter properly seated. The valve, 53, comprises a stem 53 containing, as does the valve, a concentric bore, or air duct, 53", which is connected by aid of a rubber hose 59, or other unrigid connection, with an airexhausting apparatus (not shown in Fig. 15) the same as in the previously described construction (see Fig. 1).

The valve, 53, contains a by-pass, or eccentric transverse bore, 59, alinable, in register,.with the outlet 19 when the valve is in its normal position shown in Fig. 16.

The valve also contains a radial bore, or channel, 60, communicating with its concentric bore, or air duct, 53 and alin'able,

in register, with a lateral enlargement, 19", of the outlet, 19, when the valve has been, as above described, oscillated from normal position bythe cam 55.

The operation is, in principle, the same as that of the previously described form of my invention,.-the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 16 and the can suitably positioned on the support, 29, a single rotation of the shaft, 30, serves to force the can up against the tip, 21, thereby causing the punch, as, to puncture the head, or to enlarge its already openlng, thereby distorting the sheet-metal and producing the pre-.

viously described air-tight joint between it and the receptacle 19. The punch is then raised sufliciently for it to clear the valve, 53, whereupon the latter is turned into the position shown in Fig. 17 and air exhausted from the can, through the valve, after which the punch, being completely withdrawn from the outlet 19 and the valve returned to its normal position as in Fig. 16, the material is permitted to flow under gravity and atmospheric pressure from the receptacle into the exhausted can after which further flow is prevented by outlet 19 being stopped by the descent of the punch thereinto and therethrough to its normal position, the filled can is lowered and removed and the cycle indefinitely repeated. It will be understood that the outer surface of the flange, 21, may, without departing from my invention or its results, be simply angular or conical as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, instead of being, as is however preferable, concavely curved, and also that other variations from the specific forms shown in the drawings are within the purview of my claims. 7

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is the following, viz:

1. In an apparatus for charging flowing material into a container, a receptacle for the material having adjacent its bottom. an

' outlet surrounded by an internally concave conical valve-seat; an externally eonvexly conical tubular valve member cooperative with said seat, reciprocatable within sa d receptacle, and having within it an internally concave con cal valve-seat presented in the same direction as said first mentioned valve seat and surrounding a therein, opening concentric with said outlet; an inner valve coeperative with the valve seat in the tubular valve; respective means to constantly yieldingly force eachof said valves respectively and independently of each other toward their said seats; means to, independently of the tubular valve, when, so far and so long as required, lift and uphold the inner valve from its seat; means to,:independently of said last mentioned means,

.when, and so long as required, lift and 'up- 'hold the tubular valve from its seat and in the same direction as the inner valve was lifted.

2. In an apparatus for charging a flowing material into, a sheet-metal can having in its head an aperture, a receptacle for the material having adj acent its bottom a therethrough downwardly delivering outlet, a thereunder movable support for the can dlsposed to'register said outlet with said opening; means to temporarily air-tightly intercommunicably combine said outlet with said opening; and within said receptacle a tubular movable valve member having an opening intercommunicable' with said outlet, a relatively thereto thereinmovable member comprising a valve portion cooperatable with theinterior of said tubular valve member to .close its said opening also comprising an air-duct communicating with said .interior, and also comprising a part disposable simultaneously within said outlet and said opening in the can top.

3. In an apparatus for charging a flowing material into a sheet-metal can, a receptacle for the material having adjacent its bottom ing a valve adapted to normally coiperate with the valve seat within said tubular valve member; a can-opener projection or punch carried by said pneumatic member'and passable within and beyond said outlets so as to enter the can; means to yieldlngly normally hold the said valves closed on their'seats' and the end of the can-opener projected through said outlets; means to support the recep cle and the can normally out of, and

to bring them into, contact with each other; means to, while in such contact, withdraw the can-opener from the can and to unseat the said valve of said pneumatic member; means to exhaust air from the can through said outlets, said cavity, and said duct; and means to thereafter move said tubular valve member until the outlet of the receptacle is thereby opened to passage of the material therethrough into the can.

4:. In an apparatus for charging a flowing material into a sheet-metal can, a receptacle having through its bottom a clownwardly delivering outlet for the material, and, externally surrounding said outlet, a

rigid part having a, from said outlet radially extending, substantially plane downwardly presented surface and a therefrom downwardly presented angular edge concentric with and closely surroundlng the path of said outlet; a movable downwardly pointed can-opener member normally rigidly supported within, and projecting downwardly from, said outlet; a thereunder movable support for the can; means to raise said support and its thereby carried can upwardly until said can-opener has entered the head of the can and said head is forced and tightly held in contact with said plane part, whereby said flange is wedged against portions of the can head dlstorted thereby and by said can-opener; and means to there after withdraw said can-opener from said outlet.

5, Means for producing a temporary airtight joint, or union, between a sheet-metal can, having in its head an opening, and a therewith intercommunicable member hav ing an outlet registrable with said opening, which comprise, carried by said memher a tubular, therefrom projecting, flange, its interior constituting a part of said outlet and its exterior flaring therefrom, and a part continuously surrounding said flange and having a continuous, substantially plane, operative surface of uniform level throughout entirely surrounding said outlet and flange; a support for the can disposed thereon to bring its said opening into register with said outlet; means to compress together the can and said member until the flange has entered, and is wedged against, the sides of said opening and the operative surface of said part surrounding the flange bears continuously in uninterrupted annular contact agalnst the head of the can around its said opening.

6. Means to make a temporary air-tight union with a can having in its head an opening, the said means comprising a member, or face plate, having an outlet registrable with said opening and a continuous, annular, relatively plane, surface, of uniform level, completely surrounding said outlet and disposable opposite to, and in parallelism with, said head, and a, fromsaid-surface-projecting, tubular flange having an angular edge concentric With and closely surrounding the path of said outlet and its outer surface, from the apex of said edge to its juncture with said plane surface, concavely curved; and means to force said flangeinto said opening and cause said-head to bear against said plane surface.

7 In an apparatus for charging a flowing material into a can, a receptacle for the material having adjacent itsbottom an outlet surrounded, within said receptacle, by a valve seat; a reciprocatable tubular valvemember disposed within said receptacle oooperatively with said seat and having adjajacent its bottom an opening registering with said outlet and surrounded, within said tubular valve member, by a valveseat; another valve member reciprocatable within said tubular valve member cooperatable with said last mentioned valve seat and comprising an air-duct COIHD'lIlIllCtttlHg wlth the interior of said tubular valve member,

means to reciproc'atesaid valve members to and from their respective seats, and means to, through said duct, exhaust air from the interior of said tubular valve member and from said opening and outlet.

8. In an apparatus for charging a flowing material into acan, a receptacle for the material having adjacent its bottom an outlet surrounded, within said receptacle, by a valve seat; a reciprocatable tubular valveniernber disposed within said receptacle cooperatively with said seat and having adja cent its bottom. an opening registeringwith aid outlet and surrounded, within said tubularvalve-member, by a valveseat; another valve member reciprocatable within said tubular valve-member cooperatable with said last mentioned valve seat and comprising an air-duct communicating with the interior of said tubular valve member and also a projection or punch passable through said opening and outlet; means to reciprocate said valve members to and from their respective seats, and. means to, through said duct, exhaust air from the interior of said tubular valve member and from said opening and outlet.

' BURT n. TAYL R. 

